Let me tell you a story about a movie that’s been around for 30 years now—Tommy Boy—and a surprising revelation from none other than Bo Derek. If you’re a fan of this classic comedy, you’re in for a treat. Bo recently opened up about how she ended up in the film, and it’s quite the tale. Turns out, she wasn’t even supposed to be part of it initially.
Bo Derek's Last-Minute Cast Addition: The Inside Story
“I wasn’t cast until literally the last minute. Honestly, I still don’t know who dropped out of the role of Beverly, but I was actually in Hong Kong at the time,” Bo, now 68, revealed in a candid chat with Cinemablend on March 31. “I got this unexpected call, and I had to rush back. I flew all night from Hong Kong to Toronto, and by the time I landed, I was already prepping for my scenes. The next morning, I was on set, ready to roll. To this day, no one has ever told me who was originally cast in that part. There are rumors, but it remains a mystery.”
Her Iconic Role in the Film
Bo played the unforgettable Beverly Barish-Burns Callahan in the 1995 Peter Segal-directed film, starring alongside the legendary Chris Farley, David Spade, and Brian Dennehy. Her character left a lasting impression on audiences, especially in one particular scene. Picture this: she steps out of a swimming pool in a stunning blue bikini, and just like that, viewers realized she was marrying Tommy’s dad. Talk about making an entrance!
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Bo hinted that this scene was a playful nod to her earlier film, 10, where she starred with Dudley Moore and Julie Andrews. “When I first read the script, I had this feeling that this scene was slipped in there as a fun reference to 10. It always got a great laugh from the audience, and it’s something that stuck with fans over the years. Even though I never got confirmation from anyone, I think it was a clever way to pay homage to my earlier work,” she shared.
Looking Back on Tommy Boy with Fondness
Bo took a trip down memory lane in a recent interview with CNN to celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary. She reminisced about the incredible experience of working with her co-stars, particularly Chris Farley and David Spade. “Working with those guys was such a blast. Every single take could change the scene entirely. They’d surprise you with their timing and humor, and you’d be laughing so hard that you couldn’t even anticipate what joke was coming next. By the fifth take, the scene would be completely different, and I’d still be struggling to keep it together,” she recalled with a laugh.
“Even now, when I watch the film, I can tell you exactly where I’m about to lose it. It’s a testament to their incredible talent and the chemistry we all had on set. Those were some of the best days of my career,” she added.
Peter Segal’s Struggles Behind the Scenes
While the set was buzzing with laughter and comedic genius, director Peter Segal, now 62, revealed that things weren’t always smooth sailing. At one point, he even considered walking away from the project. “Typically, when you’re making an SNL film, you shoot during their summer break. But for us, we used the summer hiatus just to figure out what the movie would be. By the time we finally had a plan, we were already back in the SNL season. It was incredibly challenging. There was a moment when I thought the whole thing was spiraling out of control. Fred had to return to SNL, and the script still wasn’t where it needed to be. I honestly didn’t think the movie was going to happen, so I tried to leave. I attempted to quit, but I was threatened with a lawsuit, so I had no choice but to stay,” Peter admitted in a 2015 interview with Film School Rejects.
“The schedule was insane. The guys would fly from Toronto to New York, work a couple of days at SNL for rehearsals, then fly back to Toronto to work on the movie. They’d do a couple of days on the film, then fly back to New York for more SNL rehearsals,” recalled associate producer Michael Ewing. “They’d perform the show, then fly back on Sunday night. It was a grueling pace, but somehow, they pulled it off.”
